Expressing concern over declining jowar production, which is the staple diet of people of North Karnataka region, particularly, Vijayapura, which produces quality jowar, elected representatives, cutting across party lines, demanded that the government do something to preserve the crop.
During the quarterly Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting here on Wednesday, MLC Sunilgouda Patil of the Congress and MLA Somanagouda Patil Sasnur of the BJP demanded that district in-charge Minister C. C. Patil get a higher Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the crop to encourage farmers to cultivate it.
“The government should announce an MSP of at least ₹ 3,500 per quintal which will encourage farmers to cultivate the crop. Or, in the absence of good prices in the market, farmers will lose interest in cultivating the crop,” Mr. Sasnur said.
Mr. Sunilgouda Patil also echoed these sentiments and added that the crop should be included in Public Distribution System.
Meanwhile, Mr. C.C. Patil expressed surprise when he heard that jowar production is declining in the district.
“Vijayapura produces the best quality jowar and we all like to eat it; but when farmers in the district themselves are not showing interest in the crop, it comes as a shock to me,” he said and inquired with Joint Director of Agriculture Department Shivakumar about the reasons for such a trend.
Mr. Shivakumar said that besides inadequate prices in the market, people are preferring wheat and rice over jowar for their daily consumption.
However, Mr. C.C. Patil asked Deputy Commissioner Y. S. Patil to submit a proposal to the government for increasing MSP and including jowar in PDS.
